Americus Trolley

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Last Updated: Wednesday, December 25 2013 19:43

Through Mr. Carson’s telephone conversations with Mrs. Crabb, and also a visit here in 1980 he verified that Mrs. Crabb’s streetcar turned cottage was indeed the official car which opened service here and, in fact, it is the only one of its era in the United States. He recently returned for another look at the streetcar and during his visit said, “the trolley has a real history. That any of it survives is a miracle.” Subsequently, Mrs. Cheokas, also an artist, was teaching youngsters in an art class at the local library, discussed the streetcar with library officials, who expressed a desire to have it, provided Mrs. Crabb wanted to give it away. More conversations ensued between Mrs. Cheokas and Mrs. Crabb who said she was willing to donate the streetcar to the library. Jane Hendrix, director of the library and June Ewing, chairman of the board, brought the subject up at a board of trustees meeting and later two of the library’s board members went to the river site to investigate the possibility of whether the artifact would be worth saving and bringing back to house on the library property. Their recommendation was positive. Some months before Mrs. Crabb had listed her river property containing the streetcar with a real estate agent, and the property was sold to Robert Pilcher of Ellaville. At that time Mrs. Cheokas started the “ball rolling,” with the creation of the “Trolley Trust” to save the little streetcar for its future home at Lake Blackshear Regional Library. “I’m overwhelmed at how fast Anna worked to get things moving,” said Mrs. Crabb.

In a period of less than two weeks, Mrs. Cheokas enlisted the services of a number of people and firms who volunteered their time and services to further the restoration of the trolley. Johnny Shiver of Shiver Lumber Co. volunteered to transport it to town. Mr. Pilcher, the new owner of the property, assisted in dismantling the wings on either side of the structure so that it could be moved, and officials at South Georgia Technical Institute, Dea Pounders, President, Johnny Johnson, and Willie Yarbrough promises a place at the educational complex on Souther Field Road to house the trolley for the restoration work. Mr. Carson was impressed with the efforts of preserving the historic streetcar after meeting with Mrs. Crabb, Mrs. Cheokas, Miss Hendrix, and others of the group at the river site. He said, “What all of these people are doing is volunteering their time and their efforts epitomizes the community spirit here in Sumter County, and shows their appreciation of their heritage.” In the beginning, the work was done by South Georgia Tech carpentry students as a class project under the supervision of Willie Yarbrough, carpentry instructor, using the design and guideline renderings of the original trolley supplied by Gene Carson. The students worked on the restoration project as time permitted. They uncovered the original pine flooring that rand the length of the car, still intact, after removing layer after layer of roofing. In its refurbishing, the carpentry students used as many of the original parts of the cars as possible, but many of the support side posts and overhead rafters had deteriorated and replacements were custom made according to the specifications by Shiver Lumber Co. and installed. Because the restoration was meticulous and went slowly, South Georgia Tech master craftsman, Harold Cromer, who has done all of South Georgia Tech’s carpentry work for many years, accepted President Dea Pounder’s challenge to complete the restoration efforts. He took over in the summer of 1989 researching the project, and then traveling to New Haven, Conn. to consult with Mr. Carson. He toured the trolley museum there in an effort to familiarize himself with electric trolley cars from the same era as the one in Americus. He began the arduous task of refinishing the project after returning to South Georgia Tech, armed with information, old pictures, and diagrams.

Having never worked on a project of this type before, it was “trial and error” at first, says Mr. Cromer. He enclosed the car, cutting the wood to size, installed workable windows and sliding doors, and virtually returning the structure to its original form. “It (the project) has probably been the most complicated one I’ve ever tackled,” said Mr. Cromer, “but I continued to work on it because I wanted to prove that I could. I want the trolley to look like the exact original as much as possible.” From the trolley’s origin in Philadelphia more than a century ago, through its intended use as a passenger car in this Southwest Georgia City to the present, the trolley has weathered the ravages of time. It has now been preserved as a historical community treasure.

Leila Barrett Anna Cheokas Gladys Crabb Margaret Hawkins

FOND REMEMBRANCES

(of an Americus Trolley)

A classic relic of the past

With its bold and colorful motif

For years neglected and forgotten Will again grace our times As it did in memories past.

Its years were few – its life was brief Still so fulfilling Offering a convenience to all As it moved with dramatic flair From street to street.

The overhead cable sparkled As it imparted wondrous power Capturing the imagination of the young Who anxiously came aboard Eager for the lengthy ride.

And as it made its daily run This trudging boxy shape With its gentle features and iron rails Made a spectacular display.

The Lake Blackshear Regional Library (Americus) holds a subscription to BookPage, courtesy of the Sumter County Friends of the Public Library, and keeps current copies at the front desk. These are free to the public. Click here to go to the online BookPage.

Our Mission

The Lake Blackshear Regional Library System's mission is to provide organized access to information through various formats and meet educational, informational, recreational and cultural needs of the citizens of Crisp, Dooly, Schley and Sumter Counties, and to improve efficiency in operations.

The Sumter County Library Board meets at 6:00 PM on the first Tuesday of January, April, July and October at the Lake Blackshear Regional Library.